Avro B-2 “Vulcan”

Avro B-2 “Vulcan”. USAFM 1983-41. Following World War II, Great Britain realized the importance of maintaining strategic bombers possessing long-range, heavy bomb loads, high speed, high-altitude performance, and able to be based anywhere in the world. To meet this challenge, Vickers, Avro, and Handley Page were each called upon to develop bombers for the Royal Air Force culminating in the Valiant, Vulcan, and Victor., Avro opted for a delta wing design in its model 698, the Vulcan, second of the triad to enter service. Due to the lack of reliable aerodynamic data on delta wings at transonic speeds available at the time, Avro developed the 707 research vehicle to provide the needed information. Out of this research emerged the Vulcan B.1 with its broad delta wing and circular cross-section fuselage. However, early flight experience with this aircraft revealed that high-G maneuvers at altitude resulted in heavy buffeting and wing fatigue. The wing was then modified with differing amounts of wing sweep along the semi-span, creating the distinctive “kinked delta” shape., The tail featured a vertical design with elevators being integrated into the delta wing. Four engines were placed within the wing root. The fuselage, blended into the wing, provided space for two pilots, three aft-facing crew members, and one internal bomb bay for bombs or mines., As the B.1 began entering service as a high-level bomber, Avro began development of an improved B.2 with an enlarged wing, revised control surface arrangement, in-flight refueling capability, and lengthened fuselage. In addition, the new model was designed to carry payloads of the Blue Steel stand-off bomb or the Skybolt ballistic missile (carried one under each wing) then under development in the United States. However, the cancellation of Skybolt and the decision to adopt the submarine-launched Polaris missile instead of Blue Steel led to a reevaluation of the Vulcan B.2. Instead of high-level operations carrying nuclear weapons, the Vulcan was adapted as a low-level conventional bomber carrying general purpose bombs and equipped with an array of advanced electronic countermeasures (ECM). Several B.2s were later modified as reconnaissance platforms being redesignated the SR.2. Both the B.2 and SR.2 remained in service into the 1980s, finally being retired shortly after their service during the Falklands War., Specifications , Span: 111' 0" . Length: 99' 11" . Height: 27' 2" . Weight: 21,000 lbs max . Crew: Five (5) . Armament: Up to 21 1,000 lb bombs . Cost: Unknown, Performance , Max speed: 645 mph . Cruising: 625 mph . Range: 3,995 miles . Service ceiling: 65,000 ft . Engine: Four Rolls-Royce Olympus 201s or 301 turbojets